Video-communication interface

• US 20070002777A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glowpoint, Inc. (Oblong, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Glowpoint, Inc. (Oblong, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Stuart, Coker, Michael, Vitale, John
• Application Number:
  US11/442,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002777A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A videocommunication system and method, having an originating endpoint; and a recipient endpoint; wherein the originating endpoint is used to initiate a packet-based video-communication with the recipient endpoint; and wherein the originating endpoint comprises an interface to initiate a video communication with a live operator.

Claims

1. A videocommunication system, comprising:

an originating endpoint; and

a recipient endpoint;

wherein the originating endpoint is used to initiate a packet-based video-communication with the recipient endpoint; and

wherein the originating endpoint comprises an interface to initiate a video communication with a live operator.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gateway through which data is transferred between the originating endpoint and the recipient endpoint.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a SIP protocol is used.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an H.323 protocol is used.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an H.320 protocol is used.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the endpoints use different video packet protocols.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the endpoints use identical video packet protocols.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the live operator uses a different protocol than at least one of the recipients.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication with the live operator is a real time communication.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a virtual button to initiate the communication with the live operator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the virtual button initiates the communication with the live operator when the virtual button is clicked on using a mouse.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the virtual button initiates the communication with the live operator when the virtual button is clicked on a single time using a mouse.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is controlled using a remote control device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is controlled by a voice of a user.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further used to control a video mail application.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the live operator establishes the packet based videoconference.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the live operator provides videoconference related assistance.

18. The method for initiating a live operator session in a packet based videoconferencing system, the method comprising:

using an interface provided at an originating endpoint to initiate the live operator session;

wherein the originating endpoint is used to initiate a packet based videoconference with a recipient endpoint.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication with the live operator is a real time communication.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises a virtual button to initiate the communication with the live operator.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the virtual button initiates the communication with the live operator when the virtual button is clicked on using a mouse.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the virtual button initiates the communication with the live operator when the virtual button is clicked on a single time using a mouse.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface is controlled using a remote control device.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface is controlled by a voice of a user.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface is further used to control a video mail application.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the live operator establishes the packet based videoconference.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the live operator provides videoconference related assistance.

28. A videoconferencing system, comprising:

an originating endpoint; and

a recipient endpoint;

wherein the originating endpoint is used to initiate a packet-based video-communication with the recipient endpoint; and

wherein the originating endpoint comprises an interface to access a video mail application.

29. The videoconferencing system of claim 28, wherein the video mail application comprises real-time video mail data.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the interface comprises a virtual button to access the video mail application.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the virtual button initiates the access to the video mail application when the virtual button is clicked on using a mouse.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the virtual button initiates the access to the video mail application when the virtual button is clicked on a single time using a mouse.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the interface is controlled using a remote control device.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the interface is controlled by a voice of a user.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the interface is further used to control a video mail application.

36. The method for accessing a video mail application in a packet based videoconferencing system, the method comprising:

using an interface provided at an originating endpoint to access a video mail application;

wherein the originating endpoint is used to initiate a packet based video-communication with a recipient endpoint.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the video mail application comprises real-time video mail data.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising activating a virtual button of the interface to access the video mail application.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein clicking on the virtual button activates the virtual button.